Drying apparatus



P. BARDUCCI.

DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED mAn,22.1921'.

1,409,915. Patented 11132214922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. BARDUCCL DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED mAR.22,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENT oFF ICE..

'PILADE BARDUCCI, or sneoNnIGLIANo, NAPLES, ITALY.

DRYING APPARATUS.

To all lwhom z' may concern.'

Be it known that I, PILADE BARDUccI, a subject of the King of Italy, and resident of Secondigliano, Naples, Italy, lhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification. v

This invention relates to drying plants and has for its object a dryingoapparatus provided with means for causilig an air stream to flow through it along either of two directionsperpendicular to each other.

The apparatus according to this invention may therefore be used for drying materials of qu'ite'different nature, that is materials requiring to be passed through by the air flow as well as materials requiring to be leached by the air iow.

This apparatus is therefore adapted for plants of small size and for travelling drying apparatus and more generally for plants in which it is desired to dry materials of different characters.

' The annexed drawings show by way of example an embodiment ofthe apparatus according to this invention; in said drawing Figure l is a longitudinal section on line 1 1 of Figure 2; Figure 2 is a section made, on the left hand half, along the line 2 2 of Figure l and on the right hand half along the line 2 2 of Figure l; Figure 3.is an elevation and Figure 4 is a view partly in section o n the line 4 4 of Figure l.

As illustrated on the drawing, the apparatus comprises two casings 1 1 having charging openings closed by doors l (see Figure 3) and each of said casings is divided in two chambers 2 2f which connnunicate with each other through an end passage 3 and a number of intermediate passages 4 provided in the manner hereinafter described.

At their outer sides the chambers 2 2 are provided with ducts 5 5 leading to a common duct 6 in which are mounted means for promoting the air circulation; these means consist, in the embodiment illustrated -on the drawing, of a propeller 7 mounted on a shaft 8 which is operated by means of the pulley 16 located outside the easing; in said duct 6 are also located heating means shown diagrammatically as tubes 9 in which a heating medium is caused to circulate.

At their end opposite the passages 3 each Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 21, 1922, Application led March 22, 1921.

Serial` No. 454,381.

of said chambers 2-2 is provided with a port 34 34 opening into the duct 6and controlled by a shutter 10-10 respectively,

-as hereinafter described.

or said ports 34-34 of the chambers may beclosed or opened wholly or partly.

Said shuttersare controlled from outside by moans of a gear hereinafter described.

The passages 4 through which the chambers 2 2"communicate with each other are controlled by means of a perforated plate l1 which is Asupported by a bolt 35 which is loosely engaged in a stirrup 36 by the intermediate of a spring 11'; this perforated plate may be shifted from outside by means of a controlling ear hereinafter. described.

By assuming t e perforated plate l1 be in a position to clear all the passages 4 and the shutters 10 and l0 in the position shown in full lines on the drawing, the air stream promoted by the fan 7 vfollows the path shown by the full-line arrows inv Figure l, that is the air flows from the! duct 5, passes through thedct 6, duct 5', chamber 2', passages 4, chamber 2 and returns again to the duct 5. v

The air may also-becaused to follow the same path but in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrows by reversing the operation of the fan 7.

By shifting the shuttersv 10 10 into the position shown by dotted lines and by carrying the perforated plate 11 in a position to close the passages 4, the air stream driven by the fan is caused to follow the path shown by the dotted-line arrows in Figure l, that is the air flows in a direction in the chamber 2', passes through the end. passage 3 and .flows 1n the opposite direction in the other.

.tained by the manipulation of the shutters 10-10 and the perforated plate 11; further the direction of the air flow may be reversed by reversing the operation of the fan 7.

For the purpose of changing the circulating air, the duct 6 is provided Wit-h the ports 37 37' controlled by the shutters 12-12 which are arranged in such a position as to control the mouths of the ducts 13 13 which open to the outside and lead to passages lll- 14' in which are located the ans 15-15 both having their blades inclined in the same direction so as to propel the air in the same direction. f

When the shutters 12 12 are carried in position to close the ports 37-37 of the duct 6 the air stream promoted by the 4fans 15 and 15 follows the path shown by the arrows in Figure 1, that is the air passes from chamber 13 to 14 and from Ychamber 14 to 13 and thence to the outside; on the contrary when the shutters 12-12 are carried in position to open to amore or less large extent the ports 37-37 of the duct 6, the fan 15 drives fresh air into the duct 6 and the fan 15 draws air from 6; the air caused to circulate within the apparatus is exchanged by means of a partial supply and exhaust which are made toequal amounts so that the volume of air circulated within the apparatus by the fan 7 is unchanged.

Conveniently the air streams'produced by the fans 15 and 15 have a direction opposite'to that produced by the fan 7 in this manner the suction produced in the duct 6 by the fan 15 when the shutter 12 is more or less open, gives rise to the exhaust of a portion of the circulating air before it reaches the heating means 9. The fans 7 15 15 are all mounted on the same shaft 8 and the fans 15-15 have their blades inclined in an opposite direction with regard to the blades of the fan 7; therefore when the operation of the fan 7 is reversed, is similarly reversed the operation of the fans 15-15 and then the exhaust is made by the fan 15 and the suction or supply is made by the fan 15, the above stated conditions being always complied with.

The above described arrangement of the fans is the preferred one as 1t shows large facilities for the manufacture and operation of the apparatus, but o f course the fans may be arranged and controlled in dilferent manners and may be independent from each other.

This invention provides also a controlling device for the shutters 10 10 as well as for the perforated plate 11 which are required to .be operated at the same time; this device is shown by Figure 3.

Said device comprises fork-shaped arms 17 17 each secured on the spindles 38-38 of one of saidshutters 10-10 and arms 18 18 loose on said spindles and having l their outer end engaged between two springs 39-39 mounted in said fork arms 17 17 to each of the arms 18-18 is connected a lever 19-19 pivoted at 20-21 respectively.

Said levers 19-19 are in turn connected with a screw-threaded spindle 21 actuated by a hand wheel 22 and one of said levers, 19, is solid with a shaft 23 on which are secured arms 24 pivotally connected with tails 25 of the perforated plate 11 (see Figure l By)operating the hand wheel 22 the perforated plate 1l is shifted and at the same time the shutters 10 10 are rotated in opposite directions. The described spring connection of the shutter shafts with the levers 18 18 makes it possible to impart to these latters a larger displacement than that made by the shutters and the fork arms 17 17 solid therewith, -so that either of the springs 39 are tensioned and the shutters may be forcedagainst the edges of the associated port.

The spindles of shutters 12-12 for the air exhaust and supply are provided with arms 28 28 controlled by rods 27 27" which are operated by a single handle 26.

lVithin the chambers 2 2 are arranged the supporting means for the material to be dried; in the embodiment illustrated said supporting means consist of section bars 29 adapted to support both frames 30 and rods 3l but of course any other arrangement may be used.

The partition between the adjacent chambers 2 2 is preferably provided by two parallel rows of bars 32 to which are secured the section bars 29 above referred to; said bars 32 are spaced from each other to provide intermediate passages 4 and the two rows provide and intermediate space in which is located the perforated plate 11.

This plate 11 is provided with slots 40 having the same size as the bars 32 so that said slots 40 and the passages 4 are closed when the slots 40 are carried in register with the bars 32.

Partitions 33 are preferably located within the chiots 5 5 said partitions being -inclined downwards and acting to evenly distribute the air supply through said ducts to .chambers 2 2 connected therewith.

In the construction illust-rated on the drawing the apparatus comprises two casings 1 1 coupled with each other but of course it may comprise either a single casing or any number of them, being only essential that the internal space of each casing be divided in two chambers by a partition leaving a large passage near one end and provided with a number of intermediate passages and with shutting means therefor, and that both chambers be connected, at their ends opposite to said large passage of their intermediate partition, with a nuotm which an air flow is promoted and be provided with means for causing the air to How through said chambers in either of two directions'substantially perpendicular to each other.

6 It is to be understood that a number of modifications may be made in the described construction, particularly as to the mounting of the fans .and the controlling means for the shutters, this invention being only 10 defined by the appended claims VVhatI claim as my invention and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. A drying apparatus comprising a casing, means dividing said casing into two adjacent chambers, said -means providing a large passage near one end of said chambers and intermediate passages interconnecting said chambers, means in said chambers for supporting the material to be dried, a duct opening at the opposite sides of said adjacent chambers remote from each other, this duct having ports opening into said chambers at their ends opposite to said large end passage, means for causing air to circulate through said duct and chambers, means controlling the communication of said ducts and ports with said chambers and means controlling said intermediate passages of said dividing means between said chambers.

2. A drying apparatus comprising a casing, means dividing said casing into two adjacent chambers said means providing a large passage near one end of said chambers and intermediate passages interconnecting said chambers, means yin said chambers for supporting the material to 'be dried, a duct opening at the opposite sides of the said adl jacent chambers remote from each other, this duct having ports opening into said cham- 40 bers at their ends opposite to said large end passage, reversible means for causing4 air to circulate through said duct and chambers,

` means controlling the communication .ofsaid duct and ports withv said chambers and means controllin said intermediate passages of said dividing means between said chambers.

3. A drying apparatus comprising a casing, means dividing said casing into two adjacent chambers, said means providing a large passage near one endof said chambers and intermediate passages interconnecting said chambers, means'in said chambers for supporting 'the material to be dried, a duct opening at the opposite sides of said adv jacent chambers remote from each other,

this duct having ports opening into said chambers at their ends opposite to said llarge end passage, means for causing air to vcirculate through said duct and chambers, v means controlling the communication of said ,-duct and ports with said chambers, means controlling said intermediate passages of saidl dividin means between said chambers and means or operating said controlling means.

4. A drying apparatus comprising a casbers and intermediate.` passages interconnecting said chambers, means in said chambers for. supporting the material to be dried, a duct opening at the opposite sides of said adjacent chambers remote from each other, thisv duct having ports opening into said chambers at their ends opposite to said large end passage, means for causing air to circulate through said duct and chambers, means controlling the communication of said duct and ports with said chambers, means controlling said intermediate passages of said dividing means between said chambers, means for operating said controlling means and means for supplying and eX- lausting air to and from said duct and chamers.

5. A drying apparatus comprising a. casing, means dividing said casing into two adjacent chambers, said means providing a large passage nea-r one end of said chambers and intermediate passages interconnecting said chambers,'means in said chambers'for supporting the material to be dried, a duct opening at the opposite sides of said adjacent chambers remote from each other, th1s -duct having ports opening into said cham- .bers at their ends opposite to said large end passage, heat-ing means in said duct, means for causing air to circulate through said duct and chambers, means controlling the communication of said duct and ports with saidy chambers and means controlling said intermediate passages of said dividing means between said chambers.

' 6. A drying apparatus comprising a casing, means dividlng said casing into two adjacent chambers, said means providing a large passage near one end of said chambers and intermediate passages interconnecting said chambers, mea-ns 1n said chambers for supporting the material to be dried, a

vduct opening at the op-posite sides of said adjacent chambers remote from each other, this duct having ports opening into said chambers at'their ends opposite to said large end passage, heating means in said duct, means for causin air to circulate through said duct and c ambers, means controlllng the communicationoij said duct-s and ports with .said chambers, means controlling said intermediate passages of said dividing means between said chambers, and means for sup-plying and exhausting air to and from said duct and chambers.

7. A drying apparatus comprising a casing, means dividing said casing into two adjacent chambers said means providing a large passage near one end of said chamber and intermediate passages interconnecting said chambers, means in said chambers for supporting the material to be dried, a duct opening at the opposite sides of said adjacent chambers remote from each other, this duct having ports opening into said chambers at their ends opposite to said large end passage, the ends of said/chambers at which are provided said passages and ports lying on a line substantially perpendicular to t-he line on which lye the sides ofsaid chambers connected with said duct, means for causing air to circulate through said duct and chambers, means controlling the communication of said ducts and ports with said chambers and means controlling said intermediate passages gf said dividing means between said chamers.

8. A drying apparatus comprising a cas-A ing, means dividing said casing into two adjacent chambers said means roviding a large passage near one end of said chambers and intermediate passages interconnecting said chambers, means in saidchambers for supporting the material to be dried, a duct leading to passages provided in the opposite sides of said adjacent chambers remote from eacli other, this duct having ports opening into said chambers at their ends opposite to said end large passage, the ends of said chambers at which are provided said large passage and ports lying on a line substantially perpendicular to the line on which lye said sides of said chambers, means controlling the com munication of said duct and ports with said chambers, means controlling said intermediate passages and means operating said controlling means, these operating and controlling means closing said end ports when said side. passages and intermediate pasages are open and openin said end ports when said side and intermediate passages are closed.

9. A drying apparatus comprising a casing, means dividing said casing into two adjacent chambers said means providin a large passage near one end of said cham rs and intermediate passages interconnecting said chambers, means in said chambers for supporting the material to be dried, a duct leading' to passages provided in the opposite sides of said adjacent chambers remote from each other, this duct having ports opening into said chambers at their ends opposite to said large end passa e, means controlling the communication o said duct and ports with said chambers, means controlling said intermediate passages and means operating' said controlling means, these operating and controlling means closing said end ports. when said side passages and intermediate passages are open and opening said end ports when said side and intermediate passages are closed.

10. A drying apparatus comprising a casing, transverse bars dividing said casing into chambers, said bars being arranged intwo rows providing an intermediate space between said rows and the bars of each opening into said chambers at their ends opposite to said large end passages, means for causing the air to circulate through said duct and chambers, means controlling the communication of said duct and ports with said chambers, means operating said controlling means land means for shifting said slotted partitions, these controlling and shifting means closing said ports when said side and intermediate passages are open and opening said ports when saidl side-and intermediate passages are closed.

11. A drying apparatus comprising a casing, means dividing said casing into two adjacent chambers, said means providing a large passage near one end of said chambers and intermediate passages interconnecting said chambers, means in said chambers for supporting the material to be dried, a duct opening at the opposite sides of said adjacent chambers remote from each other,

this duct having ports .opening linto said chambers at their ends opposite to said large end-passage, a fan mounted inl said duct for causing air to circulate through said duct and chambers, channels adjacent to said duct, this duct having ports opening in said channels at the opposite sides of said fan, controlling means for said ports these controlling means being interconnected to control together said ports in the same manner, propellers mounted in said channels and solid with saidfan, these propellers driving air currents in a direction opposite to that of the air driven in said duct by said fan, means controlling the communication of said duct and ports-with said chambers, means controlling said intermediate passages and means for operating-said controlling means.

12. A drying apparatus comprising a casing, means dividing said casing into Vtwo adjacent chambers, said means providing a large passage near one end of said chambers and intermediate passages interconnecting said chambers, means in said chambers for supporting the material to be dried, a duct having mouths opening into the op osite sides of said adjacent chambers, ba es in said mouths of said duct for distributing the air over said mouths, this duct having ports opening into said chambers at their ends opposite to said large passage, a fan mounted in said duct between said ports,

ters and said partitions to close and open at the same time said intermediate passages and said mouths and to open and close at the same time said ports, means for supplying and exhausting equal amounts of air to and from said duct at the opposite side 10` of saidfan and heating means in said duct. Signed at Turin, Italy, this 23d day of Feb., 1921.

PILADE BARDUCCI. 

